By Lali Sekhon, MD, PhD, and James Lynch, MD

James Lynch, MD, and Lali Sekhon, MD, PhD, are bringing a spine center to Sparks.

Spinal disorders are common, but most people who suffer back, neck, leg or arm pain can be helped with simple measures such as rest, over-the-counter medications and time.

When symptoms continue, it can be difficult to know where to turn. Surgeons traditionally have been thought to be biased toward surgical interventions, and physiatrists, specialists trained in nonsurgical interventions, sometimes are thought to be unaware of when surgery may play a role -- concepts that in reality may not be true.

By combining all elements of spine care under one roof, however, patients gain exposure to a team approach in the management of their health problems. They are able to see physiatrists, physical therapists and spine surgeons seamlessly and appropriately, with spinal diagnostics and injections found at the same location.

This is the concept of a multispecialty comprehensive spine center. SpineNevada is expanding its already successful spine care model in the Reno area and is bringing its extensive experience in spine care to the Sparks community.

Team approach to back and neck pain
A Center of Excellence brings a multidisciplinary approach to an area of treatment. SpineNevada is a Center of Excellence composed of physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM and R) physicians, spine surgeons and a spine-focused physical therapy team that works together to manage patients with spinal disorders.

Communication and education are the foundations of SpineNevada. Patients not only have their conditions assessed and treated, but they are educated on their problems and all treatment options using some of the most advanced technologies. By combining multiple disciplines, the team creates a level of expertise previously unavailable.

Seeing a physiatrist
A physiatrist interacts with surgeons and physical therapists and uses medications and injection therapies that may be performed in the office or in an outpatient surgery center to help with acute relief of pain and spine-related symptoms.

A physiatrist is skilled in the diagnosis of nerve problems with nerve tests, including electromyogram (EMG) and nerve conduction studies. The PM and R uses injection therapy as well as other interventions to help spine sufferers. Physical therapy

Patients recovering from surgery or with new onset of neck and back pain can benefit from physical therapy, which in addition to manual therapy, uses exercise-based interventions that patients can be trained to perform at home to relieve their symptoms.

Spine-specialized, fellowship-trained neurosurgeons
For patients who do not improve with conservative therapies, or where there is weakness, unremitting pain or spinal-cord compression, a surgeon's review often is necessary. Many patients who need spine surgeries can benefit from outpatient surgeries with less expense, quicker returns to work and less discomfort. The surgeons at SpineNevada are pioneering new technologies, including cervical and lumbar disk replacement, minimally invasive spine surgery and dynamic stabilization for their patients.

SpineNevada's Sparks team:

• James Lynch, MD, FRCSI, and Lali Sekhon, MD, PhD, FRACS, are multifellowship, Mayo Clinic-trained spinal neurosurgeons recognized nationally for their work on artificial disk surgery, motion preservation spine surgery, spinal microsurgery and outpatient surgery.
• Denis Patterson, DO, is a fellowship-trained Mayo Clinic spine physiatrist.
• Steven Hallan, PT, MDT, and Kristen Connolly, PT, DPT, form SpineNevada's conservative-care therapy team.
• Physician assistants Joseph Olivarez, Mike Fisher and Josh Pfeifle have more than 20 years of combined experience in managing spinal disorders.